1st Year Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA .38 Special Revolver, 1956 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2687.99
LSB#: 230401WL004
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 8027SA
Year of Manufacture: 1956 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .38 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 7 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of a groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece Ajax stag panels. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The cylinder has scattered turn-wear. There are scattered minor nicks and scratches with a spot of wear at the front of the ejector housing. Some areas of the frame have muted case color, others have strong color. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots and there are light tool marks around some screw heads. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces very little play on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder’s bushing is removable. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Colt Single Action Army is perhaps the quintessential old west handgun, produced for more than a century, serving the U.S. Army as its sidearm from 1873 into the first world war and captivating audiences on the silver screen. The SAA was discontinued by Colt as it tooled up to provide for the WWII war effort, and it was thought by Colt that the design was obsolete, swing-out cylinder revolvers had been around for half a century and autoloaders were gaining in popularity. Then, with the advent of television and western programs such as Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, and The Gene Autry Show, American interest in the guns that won the west was reborn. In 1956, Colt reintroduced the Single Action Army, this new production run now referred to as the 2nd Generation SAA’s, and this example comes from that first year of production.
The revolver is in Very Good-plus condition with a great bore, strong mechanics and about 90% of its metal finish remaining. It shows honest wear consistent with its age and responsible use. The gun is chambered for the common .38 Special cartridge, so if you choose to shoot it, ammunition should be easy to find in a variety of loads. This would make a great addition to a Colt collection as one of the earliest of the second generation, but it will also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
